Intrahepatic compartmentalization of IL-17-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in chronic HCV infection

The pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IL-22 play an important role in inflammatory diseases and in host defense against several pathogens. The main cellular source of both cytokines are CD4+ T cells (Th17 cells), however CD8+ T cells are also able to produce IL-17 and IL-22. Little is currently known about the peripheral and intrahepatic distribution of IL-17 producing T cells in chronic HCV infection. To address this important question, we determined the ex vivo frequency of IL-17-, IL-22- as well as IFN-γ-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells present in the blood of patients with chronic HCV infection (n=20), NAS…